Actually it is. Other than the display and the number of GPU cores... it is the same. In fact, all the specs (other than the display and SoC) are the same as the iPad 4
http://www.apple.com/ipad/compare/
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Phil Schiller Defends iPad Mini Pricing Decision
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Actually it is. Other than the display and the number of GPU cores... it is the same. In fact, all the specs (other than the display and SoC) are the same as the iPad 4
http://www.apple.com/ipad/compare/
the market will decide if its too expensive in the end. So unless this becomes a flop (I doubt it), they will not lower the price if they do not have to. If you think its too expensive then either wait for a refurb/open box deal or just don't buy it (wait for next gen with ipad 3 internals). My personal number was 249 also so I will wait.
That's not a valid analogy at all. People that say such obviously have never handled the N7. It's closer to Oakley vs Costa Del Mar. Great products but appeal to different people.
You had me at PPI and GPS, however:
If someone mentions RAM / quadcore one more time, comparing different platforms, I will take out my pistol and shoot it in the air. The Nexus 7 doesn't hold a candle to an iPad 2 in speed, regardless of what's inside. The marriage of software and hardware is a beautiful thing.
You cannot compare Android / iOS / W8 with specs. Just like you can't compare Linux / OSX / Windows with specs in the desktop world. Each platform requires different hardware to maximize performance....
At 299 people would bitch it wasn't 249.
At 249 people would bitch it wasn't 199.
At 199 people would bitch it wasn't 99.
At 99 people would bitch it wasn't free.
Amazon has an average product. Specs don't mean **** if you can't utilize it. Apple doesn't include the fastest hardware, but the apps that run on their products work great. People who buy based on specs don't know **** anyway. My $300 PC with core i3 runs *most* of the same apps and programs just as fast as someone who spent 1500 on their i7 PC. And very likely the people who have the i7 PC's don't use the 1% of apps that require a faster computer.
I will say that... Phil makes a good point... not only were there $200/$250 7" Tablet options, there were plenty of options between $300 and $500 for 9"/10" tablets... Plus, several of them had USB ports and SD card slots for additional memory.
Yet, the iPad still dominated the market.
Consider how many of those buyers did not buy the $399 iPad 2 or $499 16 GB iPad 3...
For every person who bought a 32 or 64 GB iPad 1/2/3, or anyone who purchased an iPad with Cellular capabilities. Each of those further widened the price gap between the iPad and their competition... Again, the iPad still was the number 1 seller.
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On a side note, it has always amazed me how much iPad's and iPhone's hold their value compared to any other electronic. Smart phones and tablets in general hold their value pretty good.
It makes it easier to upgrade to newer models when the new features are worth the extra cash.
Yet, the iPad still dominated the market.
Consider how many of those buyers did not buy the $399 iPad 2 or $499 16 GB iPad 3...
For every person who bought a 32 or 64 GB iPad 1/2/3, or anyone who purchased an iPad with Cellular capabilities. Each of those further widened the price gap between the iPad and their competition... Again, the iPad still was the number 1 seller.
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On a side note, it has always amazed me how much iPad's and iPhone's hold their value compared to any other electronic. Smart phones and tablets in general hold their value pretty good.
It makes it easier to upgrade to newer models when the new features are worth the extra cash.
I could see it at this price IF it had retina display but think it should have been priced at 299. But hey, Don't like the price, Don't buy it. Pretty simple.
Of course he's going to defend it, but I find Phil's comments recently more and more irritating (or should I say infuriating) to say the least.
Let's wait until the teardown and see what the profit margin is on this one.
I was never for a mini in the first place, but this...
Let's wait until the teardown and see what the profit margin is on this one.
I was never for a mini in the first place, but this...
A bigger screen, smaller and lighter form factor, long battery life, and a built-in profit, and still only that much of a premium? Actually, that's pretty good.
Plus it's a bunch more capable.
Let's do some "cost math". The cellular model is about $460. If you amortize that over a 1 year product release cycle, the monthly cost is $38.33. Not bad for the functionality. If you presume you sell the device each product release cycle and use one of those buy back services, which is the most frictionless not the best possible price means, they will pay around $300 for it, leaving you a net $160 for the newest model. That's only $13.33/mo. The cellular activation is $10 a month either way if you already have a smart phone too, and wifi is free. That is a very low Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
Plus it's a bunch more capable.
Let's do some "cost math". The cellular model is about $460. If you amortize that over a 1 year product release cycle, the monthly cost is $38.33. Not bad for the functionality. If you presume you sell the device each product release cycle and use one of those buy back services, which is the most frictionless not the best possible price means, they will pay around $300 for it, leaving you a net $160 for the newest model. That's only $13.33/mo. The cellular activation is $10 a month either way if you already have a smart phone too, and wifi is free. That is a very low Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
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the iPod touch is 299
How about they can't undercut the iPod touch.....why are we arguing about this?
How about they can't undercut the iPod touch.....why are we arguing about this?
and the fandroids love paper specs
there has been software to mimick higher screen resolution for years. you can ship a crappy screen, license some software and report a higher resolution. that's why the Galaxy S3 screen quality looks like crap compared to the iphone 4S
and all the fandroids think that if you have higher clock speed it means better performance. hasn't been true, ever. Intel's CPU's run at half the clock speed they ran at a decade ago
Not everyone has to compete on price, that's a fallacy. Apple don't and they never will, that's not their business model. If they forego volume, that's okay, they have high margins.
The moment they start competing on price, their competitors will all lower their prices, and it'll start a race to the bottom, and when Apple can't make money off their hardware at those prices, they'll have to start cutting corners, which is what every *other* manufacturer already does - they sacrifice quality for cost, and that's how they become competitive. That isn't Apple, and that's not the game they play, but I'm sure they enjoy watching all the other companies play that awful game.
You're as funny as you are ill iterate. Cursing apple over $30? People spend $30 at Starbucks in a 5 day work week. You're not just paying for the hardware specs - which are superior to Kindles 3 fold. Its the available software as well. You can't do the same things with a kindle. I tried one. It's not even in the same league.Agreed
I agree with this. However, people looking for an iPad mini very cheap should just wait until February when they start appearing the Apple refurbished store. I just checked yesterday and they're now selling the 3rd Gen iPad for $379...pretty aggressive pricing for the value you get.
I agree with this. However, people looking for an iPad mini very cheap should just wait until February when they start appearing the Apple refurbished store. I just checked yesterday and they're now selling the 3rd Gen iPad for $379...pretty aggressive pricing for the value you get.
399 for the 32 GB was an instant sell to me. 459 just sounds to much!
But hey, next year you get the 16GB one for 229... I guess...
But hey, next year you get the 16GB one for 229... I guess...
As we've seen in the larger tablet market, faster processors and more RAM in Android tablets doesn't make them superior. Apple is able to custom tailor their OS to run better on less. Say what you will... but the iPad Mini offers the same iPad/iOS/Apple ecosystem experience as the current dominant tablet in the market, for cheaper. They're not pricing them to compete with the cheapest. People will pay more if they perceive they overall product to be a better experience than cheaper products. It was that way with the iPod (less storage, higher price than the alternatives, but dominated the market); it's still that way with computers and laptops (you can get a LOT higher specs in a PC of the same price as a Mac); it's been that way with the iPad, and it'll likely be that way with the iPad mini. This has been Apple's model for years. Why would they change it now, when it's made them the most valuable company on the planet? The mini will sell just fine, whining notwithstanding.
Apple can do what they want...the critics can say all they want.
They said it about the iPhone and iPad and Apple proved them wrong.
Now, I will say, that having the guts of a 2 year old iPad though does make me not want to get it and not having Retina.
If you can pull off the iPad 2 at $499 and then make the iPad 3 have a Retina display and keep the $499 price point, then IMO you needed to make the iPad Mini have a Retina display and at $329 price point.
I'm going to pass and wait for the next version with the better chip and Retina display.
They said it about the iPhone and iPad and Apple proved them wrong.
Now, I will say, that having the guts of a 2 year old iPad though does make me not want to get it and not having Retina.
If you can pull off the iPad 2 at $499 and then make the iPad 3 have a Retina display and keep the $499 price point, then IMO you needed to make the iPad Mini have a Retina display and at $329 price point.
I'm going to pass and wait for the next version with the better chip and Retina display.
It's just like when the first iPad was released.
"Too expensive, not enough features, not fast enough, no usb ports, no camera."
And people still went out to buy it. Now, I'm not saying that the iPad mini is amazing or anything like that, personally I won't be getting it, but it will sell.
Now the next generation iPad mini, that will be good.
"Too expensive, not enough features, not fast enough, no usb ports, no camera."
And people still went out to buy it. Now, I'm not saying that the iPad mini is amazing or anything like that, personally I won't be getting it, but it will sell.
Now the next generation iPad mini, that will be good.
Isn't it annoying that every product in technology is outdated as soon as it's put up for sale. haha. Maybe companies are afraid of being sell outs? Well apple seems to be always sold out so idunno.
No big deal. They'll be at $275 in no time through the refurb store. Then $250-ish. I don't really understand the fixation on buying new unless you absolutely crave having the product right away. About a year ago, I decided to start purchasing all of my Apple products refurbed and I couldn't be happier. They ALL have arrived in better condition/ with less flaws than any I bought new previously. One thing I don't understand, though, is releasing it without a retina display when the iPod Touch even comes with one. That's a tad embarrassing.... not to mention it not having an A5X or A6 chip. That said, they will sell multi-millions and simply use retina as the selling point of the 2nd gen.
They have to leave some things out for next years update...
I believe they chose this marketing strategy so that when they update the product next year. They can actually make a decent update. And they will bump the current one down to an 8gb or 16gb version and sell it at the 229-249 price point.
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